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Privacy NoticeWhether it’s listening to an old song on shuffle or finding a faded school shirt at the back of the wardrobe, nothing quite beats taking a walk down memory lane. Despite historically being deemed a psychiatric disorder (yes, really!) the warm fuzzy feeling of nostalgia is set to be the defining theme of 2023 as Barbie and Ken hit the big screen and the likes of Busted and S Club sell out arenas. “Nostalgia is the romanticism of a past life,” says Dr Elena Touroni, consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic. “It can combine both happy and sad feelings but, generally, comes alongside a feeling of wistfulness and a longing to return to times gone by.” And it turns out that embracing nostalgia could come with health benefits, too. “Nostalgia can benefit our mental health and provide comfort,” she adds. Here’s how…
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Motivational benefits In the workplace, nostalgia for previous achievements can act as a motivational source. “By revisiting positive memories, we are reminded of our ability to overcome challenges in the past,” says Faye Edwardes, author of The Little Book Of Positivity: A First-Aid Kit For Your Well-Being. Social connection When it comes to our relationships, a shared sense of nostalgia can deepen bonds and feelings of connectedness. “Sharing lived experiences – and memories – is a key part of forming close bonds,” says Dr Touroni. “Sharing special memories can remind you of how much you’ve been through together, which can be relationship-enhancing.” But besides creating a common ground, nostalgia has other pro-social benefits including heightened empathy.
When it comes to our relationships, a shared sense of nostalgia can deepen bonds
Heart-warming memories With summer finally upon us, visions of cold winter nights may be the last thing on people’s minds. However, it turns out that being nostalgic can have some beneficial properties when it comes to our perception of temperature, meaning that those warm feelings are more than just an emotion. Not only did the University of Southampton find that people are more likely to feel nostalgic when in cooler temperatures, it also found that listening to nostalgic music can make people feel physically warmer.
It turns out that being nostalgic can have some beneficial properties
Inner child Research suggests living in the past could help people feel younger. “There is one famous study by Ellen Langer where men in their seventies moved into a house which was set up to look as if it was 1959. “Their IQs increased, they walked faster and the public aged them younger,” says neuroscientist and psychology expert, Laura Ellera.
Research suggests living in the past could help people feel younger
Mood boost While nostalgia is deeply rooted in the past, reflecting on positive memories can have a beneficial influence over the present by combating negative feelings. “Visualising the past helps to strengthen neural pathways which makes it easier for us to use them in the future,” explains Laura. “The act of reliving memories keeps them fresh in our mind. So if you are replaying happy memories in your mind, you are strengthening those neural pathways which can lead to an overall more positive feeling.” Reduced pain Connecting with a happy memory can activate pain-relieving mechanisms in the brain. “One study found that looking at images of scenes and objects from a person’s childhood helped to reduce their perception of pain,” explains Laura.
Connecting with a happy memory can activate pain-relieving mechanisms in the brain
Too much of a good thing? Despite the joys of looking back at things with rose-tinted glasses on, being too nostalgic could be a cause for concern and signal a dissatisfaction with the present. “It’s important to maintain a healthy balance between dwelling on the past and embracing the present,” explains Faye. “Nostalgia can provide a circuit breaker to difficult situations we’re facing but it can’t solve them.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnBustedChelseaHealth
